tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post2395890934646130898..comments2023-12-26T10:22:04.630-05:00Comments on Things of My Soul: Managing Hunger and ThirstPapa Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-91879898784383590352008-04-08T17:20:00.000-04:002008-04-08T17:20:00.000-04:00Jim, I forgot to add one thing: "Being born again"...Jim, I forgot to add one thing: <BR/><BR/>"Being born again" is the INITIAL act of a deep desire to change - to repent - to become converted. Just as physical birth is not adulthood, but rather the first step toward adulthood, "being born again" marks a "turning point" - the transition between being "carnally minded" and "spiritually minded" - the moment when one turns from / discards the Papa Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-75167443681175744462008-04-08T17:08:00.000-04:002008-04-08T17:08:00.000-04:00Great questions, Jim. I'll try to tackle them one...Great questions, Jim. I'll try to tackle them one at a time - edited a bit to tackle each broad subject. <BR/><BR/>1) The nature of conversion <BR/><BR/>I see "conversion" as the active application of repentance - since each of those terms, in its pure meaning, describes a change. "Conversion" is the *process of action* that occurs when one is "repentant". So, "to convert" means "to repent" Papa Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-76567240259708873122008-04-08T14:54:00.000-04:002008-04-08T14:54:00.000-04:00Ray, I appreciate your comments. I've been kickin...Ray, I appreciate your comments. I've been kicking around some ideas in my head, and at the risk of revealing ignorance (if I haven't done that already), I'll ask your thoughts: what is the relationship between conversion (or having a change of heart, being born again, submitting our will, etc.) to seeking to develop meekness, hungering and thirsting after righteosness, etc.? Are they all the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-18650434993879438952008-04-07T19:10:00.000-04:002008-04-07T19:10:00.000-04:00Jim, you asked: "Do you believe that a primary pur...Jim, you asked: "Do you believe that a primary purpose of this life is to learn to subdue physical appetites?" <BR/><BR/>No, I don't - but what I believe is a similar in some ways to that. I believe "subduing physical appetites" is a remnant of the gnostic influence on the early church - when original sin and the disembodiment of the Father and the Son was established as doctrine. I think it Papa Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704974609266088416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199387660357003170.post-36568964638074583112008-04-07T16:40:00.000-04:002008-04-07T16:40:00.000-04:00Great thoughts- thank you. For many, we "naturall...Great thoughts- thank you. For many, we "naturally" understand the physical cravings for food and drink, and it is easy (usually) to satisfy those needs.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps in part because of a preoccupation with physical needs but also for various other reasons, I believe we often overlook our spirit's needs.<BR/><BR/>I hope this isn't too much of a threadjack, but do you believe that a primary Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com